Rosenverse

This video is only accessible to Gold members. Log in or register for a free Gold Trial Account to watch.

Log in Register

Most conference talks are accessible to Gold members, while community videos are generally available to all logged-in members.

What Design Research can Learn from Documentary Filmmaking
Gold
Friday, March 11, 2022 • Advancing Research 2022
Share the love for this talk
What Design Research can Learn from Documentary Filmmaking
Speakers: Bas Raijmakers, PhD (RCA) , Charley Scull and Prabhas Pokharel
Link:

Summary

Video can be so much more than just a presentation aid and a way to engage stakeholders; it can also be a means to explore, understand, and convey deep human truths. Through the lens of documentary filmmakers and visual ethnographers, film can be a powerful medium with which to capture context and emotion, and tell nuanced stories. In this fireside chat with three design researchers who have extensive experience working with video and documentary techniques, you will hear how they integrate documentary filmmaking approaches and methods into their research practices.

Key Insights

  • Video is increasingly integral to UX and design research, enhancing understanding and engagement.

  • The incorporation of material culture is vital in storytelling to reveal deeper insights about user experiences.

  • Interactive engagement in filming leads to richer narratives than traditional observational methods.

  • Collaboration with participants in producing videos fosters authenticity and enhances storytelling.

  • A multi-tier approach to deliverables allows for deeper audience engagement and better understanding of research findings.

  • Practitioners often underutilize video as a critical practice in research, despite its potential.

  • Auto-ethnography and participant-generated content provide unique perspectives that enrich the research process.

  • Contextualizing video insights in a way that resonates with stakeholders is key to ensuring their impact.

  • The shift from a 'fly on the wall' approach to more interactive methods reflects the need for empathy in research.

  • Tools like the Redux Video Board can enhance collaborative analysis and storytelling in design research.

Notable Quotes

"Video is not just a way to capture. It's a way to think about information."

"If ethnographic film is just observational, it's just a security camera and a bank."

"Documentary film has been part of my life for decades."

"You can't just observe. You need to also understand what's happening inside people's heads."

"The stories need to travel through the organization."

"It's about knowing what really moves people in their experiences."

"Good storytelling is crucial because if the stories are strong, they will travel easily."

"You can't really just go from your own experience when you're working with diverse users."

"Material culture reveals the deep cultural context behind actions and decisions."

"Working with participants in creating content is essential for maintaining authenticity."

More Videos

Jacqui Frey

"I came from Atlanta, and I know I saw a bunch of y'all on the flights here."

Jacqui Frey

Flow and Superfluidity for Design Orgs

November 7, 2018

Laura Gatewood

"Human connection is a basic and evolutionary need; without it, we struggle to foster resilience."

Laura Gatewood Laine Prokay

Beyond Buzzwords: Adding Heart to Effective Slack Communication

September 23, 2024

Johanna Kollmann

"When insights are communicated poorly, they lose value."

Johanna Kollmann

Insights-Driven Product Strategy: Get your Research to Count

December 6, 2022

Bria Alexander

"We want to make sure you are feeling loved, supported, and excited about the outstanding content we have today."

Bria Alexander

Day 3 Welcome

September 25, 2024

Billy Carlson

"Throw away the rule book—just try to get as many ideas as you can out as fast as possible."

Billy Carlson

Ideation tips for Product Managers

December 6, 2022

Catherine Dubut

"It's easy to stay immersed in digital, but physical contexts matter immensely for designing multi-channel experiences."

Catherine Dubut

Bridging Physical and Digital Spaces: Approaches to Retail Service Design

March 18, 2021

Kim Holt

"At Salesforce, our values are at the core of what we do."

Kim Holt Emma Wylds Pearl Koppenhaver Maisee Xiong

A Salesforce Panel Discussion on Values-Driven DesignOps

September 8, 2022

Adrian Howard

"Talking about outcomes first helped question their previous experiences."

Adrian Howard

Sturgeon’s Biases

September 25, 2024

Asia Hoe

"We learned to better work more synchronously as opposed to having a meeting for everything."

Asia Hoe

Partnering with Product: A Journey from Junior to Senior Design

November 29, 2023